What is the Difference Between a Transsexual and a Crossdresser?

Transsexual vs. Crossdresser?

What's the difference between these two common forms of transgender expression?

Before we get to that…

If you're looking for additional insights in the category, these other similar chapters in this section might be of interest:

Additional chapters Included in this specific section on this subject, include:
Variations in Transgender Expression: An Introduction
What is the Difference Between Transgender and Transsexual?
What is the Difference Between Transgender and Gay?
What is the Difference Between a Transsexual and a Shemale?
What is the Difference Between a Transvestite and a Crossdresser?
What is the Difference Between a Transsexual and a DRAG Queen?


First, lets discuss what most often represents the term "transsexual"…

What's a Transsexual?

A transsexual is a transgender person - starting from either a male or female platform - that’s determined through therapy and/or their own reflection they were clearly born in the wrong body. They usually have plans to change their gender via “transition” - or have already done so.

Translation?



If you are diagnosed "transsexual" - your transgender desire is of utmost importance to your happiness and well-being and you're intently dreaming of completely changing your gender. This desire and frustration usually starts at a very early age and is something we're born with from the start.

Additional There's a number of TS (transsexual "types" you might hear about - based around where we are in the process of changing our gender)

The two most common, include:

Pre-Op Transsexual

A “pre op transsexual” is a transsexual whose usually already living full time in their new gender but who hasn’t yet had the final / bottom surgery = also known as GRS / SRS.



Post-Op Transsexual

A Post-Op Transsexual is a transsexual whose already completed “bottom surgery” - GRS. 99.99% of the time she’s been living full-time as a woman for an extended period. Generally-speaking, post-op transsexual women are amongst the most well balanced & evolved transgender women - since they’re now past much of drama associated with being transgender. However, that’s not always the case.

What's a Crossdresser?

A “crossdresser" (AKA - CD or CDer) is a man who fulfills a need for transgender expression through occasionally - or often - dressing and presenting as a woman. Some cross dressers share their craft publicly: shopping, socializing and going to dinner - often with other similarly evolved trans-women. Some only do it privately - either because they’re spouse or friends would no be supportive, they worry about life issues associated with if someone finds out or they feel they could never “pass” in public.



I've found very few men in the world who have not at least tried being a "one time CD" by donning a woman's panties. Why is this so widespread? Who knows! I'm pretty certain the fact female undergarments look and feel so much sexier than jockey shorts plays a minor role!

There’s also the “fetish cross dresser” - whose primary motivation for cross dressing is the sexual stimulation associated with such activities. The internet is a boon for most cross dressers - allowing them to connect publicly and privately as never before.

Some of the healthiest and most balanced members of the trans-community are cross dressers.

However, that’s not always the case. One cross dresser variants - we call the “fantasy cross dresser” is notoriously problematic. These girls are usually closeted cross dressers with a strong sexual tie to being transformed. They’ll use photos and images of other transgender women - or born-women - and engage others on-line with their female persona’s. Both men and other trans-women have been fooled by these con’s. Fortunately, the trans-world is a rather small community and they always eventually get “found out” regardless how good the con.

Thus, in summation:

A Transsexual and a Crossdresser are both members of the transgender community. Both are born with a desire to express a gender opposite from the one they came into this earth,

A transsexual's desire is strongest - and will include plans or dreams to live full-time as female and completely change gender. A crossdresser does this representation on a part-time basis - maintaining some sort of comfortable balance between male and female.


Additional Main Chapters in this Area, include:


What is Transgender?
Introduction to Transgenderism
How to respect a Transgender Person
Men Dressed as Women
Urban Dictionary: Transgender Terms
Urban Dictionary: Transgender Slangs
Transgender Labels
What do I do if I think the girl you're dating might be transgender?
My husband watches shemale porn: Is he gay?